Kentucky Derby 2013 Horses: Big Names Who Will Be One-Race Wonders in Louisville

There are plenty of big names in horse racing this weekend, but there are a few horses that will only be relevant for this week. After the race is over, it is unlikely that they will do much else for the rest of their careers.

Horses that are only big names for one race are usually ones that have peaked too early or are simply not fit to race at the highest possible level after Saturday to stay relevant for the rest of their careers.

Let’s go ahead and take a look at a couple potential one-race wonders.

Note: All odds are provided by Bovada.com

Oxbow (30-1 odds)

Even with the lower odds, a lot of people like Oxbow as a potential winner. He has had several strong outings in his career, including a second-place finish in March at the Rebel Stakes.

However, there is a bit to be concerned about with this horse. His running style tends to give him trouble when in traffic, which is a common problem in bigger races. He has also had some rough starts the past few races, but was able to rally.

The only reason Oxbow still has a good shot is because of the likely rain. Oxbow improves significantly on an off track, and that should make him a potential winner on Saturday.

Goldencents (5-1 odds)

A lot of the hype surrounding this horse is due to Rick Pitino being a part-owner along with Doug O’Neill being his trainer.

O’Neill will be looking to make history by having back-to-back winners in the Kentucky Derby after I’ll Have Another took home the title in 2012.

Goldencents does a great job when leading the pack, so he is in good shape as long as he can do that. However, even if he wins at Churchill Downs, the path to the Triple Crown would be difficult, as others would make sure to find ways to keep him out of the front end.

The hype surrounding Goldencents will die down after this race. He’s an exciting choice due to Pitino and O’Neill, but no one will care about that too much after this weekend.

Overanalyze (15-1 odds)

Winning the Arkansas Derby gives Overanalyze a lot of hype heading into this weekend, but living up to that hype will definitely be a challenge.

Overanalyze has the stamina to complete the race, and has a nice running style that gives him a shot at getting on the board. However, his inconsistency will doom him, even if it’s after this race.

Assuming Overanalyze is somehow able to get on the board, how will he fare for the rest of his career? Odds are that he will struggle to consistently be a winner, and that will making him rather irrelevant after this weekend.